Facing Jacksonville Bolles, the winningest program in Florida high school football history with 11 state titles, Plantation American Heritage looked to prove its progress against the elite.
The Patriots’ big-play offense set the tone in a 60-21 rout Friday night at Heritage Field.
“We know as an offense we have big-play capabilities,” Heritage coach Mike Rumph said. “Each week we just try to stay humble and work harder and harder. It feels good as a coach to see the kids progress from the spring to now.”
American Heritage (7-1) opened the game with a 28-0 lead, stunning the Bulldogs (4-2) with quick scores.
All six first-half drives, which led to touchdowns, took three plays or less. Each came on plays on 40-or-more yards.
Senior wideout Isaiah McKenzie found the sideline on junior quarterback Torrance Gibson’s pass, racing 80 yards for a touchdown on the first play.
“That set the tone,” senior running back Sony Michel said. “First play touchdown. Everybody came out and did their job. Set it off.”
On their next possession, Michel found the end zone on a 41-yard run just three plays in.
With 7:28 remaining in the first, senior wide receiver Dallas Perez and Gibson connected for a 68-yard touchdown. Gibson and Michel struck for a 56-yard touchdown.
Gibson’s first three passes went for touchdowns. He finished 8 for 10 with 277 yards and another score, an 18-yarder to junior wideout Brandon Johnson in the third.
Bolles finally answered with an 11-play, 80-drive to make it 28-7 on junior Christian Bermudez’s 1-yard run with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Two plays later Gibson scrambled for a 67-yard touchdown. Michel tacked on a 54-yard run as the Patriots led 42-7 by halftime.
The Bulldogs would score 14 points over the next two quarters, but failed to avoid a running clock.
Junior quarterback Jce Edden went 18 for 38 with 283 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Junior running back Travis Jackson added a 35-yard touchdown on the ground, while senior Scotty Wade connected on a 51-yard field goal to cap the scoring.
“It’s just another step up,” Rumph said. “They’re really good, but today was about is. Everything we’re doing is about us. We want to get better as a team, and I think we proved it as a team.”
Comments